DAVENPORT, Florida – Blaine Wahlen of the Ripon baseball program pitched eight sparkling innings on Thursday, but the Red Hawks could not muster enough offense in a 4-2 loss to SUNY Maritime at NorthEast Regional Park.
 
Nearly a year to the date after a complete-game win in Florida over spring break, Wahlen was impressive again on Thursday. The senior went eight complete innings on the hill, allowing just seven hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts across 115 pitches.
 
Maritime (6-7) pounced on Ripon (3-8) early, putting a runner at third in each of the first two innings. A run-scoring triple and a run-scoring error in the second gave the Privateers the early 2-0 lead. However, Ripon got a run back in the third. Gabriel Zielinski singled on a bunt, then stole second. Moments later, Alex Pankratz singled him home with one out to bring the Red Hawks within a run.
 
Leading 2-1 in the sixth, Maritime tacked on another run to extend its advantage to 3-1. However, Ripon inched closer in the seventh. Jason Clark walked to open the inning, and Brock Warren doubled to put two in scoring position. With two outs, Pankratz drove home another run with an RBI single as the deficit was cut in half. Unfortunately, Ripon left the bases loaded and headed to the eighth down a run.
 
The Privateers gained an insurance run in the ninth, holding Ripon scoreless in the final half inning to pick up the win.
 
Six different Red Hawks accounted for Ripon's seven hits: Owen Gerhardt, Chase Hanselman, Jack Anderson, Warren and Zielinski all had one hit apiece, while Pankratz went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs driven in and a stolen base.
 
NEXT UP: Ripon finishes its spring break trip against Wooster at 8 a.m. CT on Friday (March 21).
 
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